This shop has two storefronts, neither particularly large nor small.

Business was just average, the kind that doesn't attract much attention.

As she stepped inside, the female shopkeeper, who was calculating accounts at the counter, smiled.

"Second Miss is back. Isn't the plum grove in Xiangxuehai in the eastern suburbs beautiful?"

Qi Su put the riding whip on the counter.

"It's nothing special. The weather's been warm these past few days, and the flowers have all withered."

The female shopkeeper smiled, "Miss, please go in and rest. The master has already given instructions that tonight is the Lantern Festival, and he wants you to go see the lanterns with him."

Qi Su waved her hand and stepped into the inner courtyard.

"We'll see."

…

In the evening, the second young lady of the Yan family and her maids went out to look at the lanterns.

Master Yan always doted on his daughter. The young lady, wearing a veil, was surrounded by several maids and servants as she left the house, chatting and laughing.

On the night of the fifteenth of the first lunar month, there is no curfew in Kyoto, and the festivities continue all night.

When I went out now, the streets were already crowded with people. It was difficult for even a sedan chair to pass, let alone a horse-drawn carriage.

In short, the lights are on both sides of the Imperial Street, and the area near the Vermilion Bird Gate is the most bustling section.

The Imperial Street stretches for dozens of miles, starting from Danfeng Gate, the south gate of the palace, passing through Zhuque Gate, and ending at Nanxun Gate, the city gate.

In the very middle section, only the emperor could walk.

But the street is very wide, with pedestrians allowed on both sides and various shops lining both sides.

Colorful threads and lanterns of various colors hung from the trees, making it as bright as day.

The emperor and his concubines have not yet come out to share the joy with the people, but they are not needed, and everyone is happy.

The vendors carrying their wares moved freely through the crowd like fish.

Peanut cakes, braised beef, rock sugar pear soup, and stewed chicken—the variety is dazzling.

Miss Yan and her entourage chatted and laughed as they walked and stopped.

They walked up to a stall selling masks.

A charming little fox in red and white, a golden pig mask, a fierce tiger mask, a mask of evil spirits and wrathful gods—all sorts of masks are available.

The second young lady picked out a mask with a blue face and fangs and put it on her face.

It's okay if you get tired from walking.

Besides the vendors selling fermented vegetable soup on the streets, there are also many roadside beverage shops.

While shaved ice is not suitable for winter, warm milk drinks are still very popular.

After walking for about half an hour, the second young lady and her party stopped to rest at a beverage shop outside Longjin Bridge.

.

The Changping Earl's mansion was also brightly decorated and shone brightly.

Aunt Ji did not go to see the lanterns.

That's strange.

Before Third Sister returned to the capital, Aunt Ji would start talking about the Fish and Dragon Dance on the Imperial Street every year from the beginning of the twelfth lunar month, describing how prosperous and lively it was.

But once she returned to the capital, she never went out again.

Every time Third Sister invited her to go out, she would always frown.

A person sat in the cold, gray courtyard.

"You may go, but Madam will be unhappy if she finds out. It can't be that the younger ones are ignorant and the older ones are also ignorant."

Qi Su didn't understand why her brothers and sisters in the mansion were acting so immaturely when they had all gone out to see the lanterns.

Since she was so ignorant, where did those vivid images of the bustling Imperial Street and the lively fish and dragons that she described when she was in the countryside come from?

Qi Su stepped over the wall and leaped into the Changping Marquis's mansion.

Looking down from the rooftop, this not-so-large mansion has a familiar yet strange feeling.

Even the courtyard where Aunt Ji lived was decorated with lanterns.

Bright and sparkling, the goldfish lanterns and butterfly lanterns, with gold powder painted on their tails and butterfly wings.

It looks quite valuable.

My aunt's courtyard is different from before.

Two more water tanks have appeared in the yard, decorated with mountain scenery and filled with small fish.

There are more flowers and trees now, and the corridor has been repainted.

Even the old cotton curtain used to block the door has been replaced with a leather one.

The room was warm and fragrant, with candlelight flickering on the lotus-shaped lamps.

The wet nurse carried a four- or five-year-old child out of the room.

Aunt Ji followed and gave her some instructions.

"Put your hat on, or you'll be complaining of a headache tomorrow if you get chilled in the wind." She spoke with the air of a loving mother.

She couldn't possibly have given birth to such a big child in just one year.

It seems she got what she wanted. The lady gave her the youngest child to raise.

Voices could be heard coming from inside the room.

It was the voice of Changping Bo.

That gentleman actually entered this courtyard.

Her aunt once tearfully told her that her father never paid any attention to her.

Looking back now, the couple, while not exactly respectful to each other, lived a harmonious and happy life.

The master said, "The eldest son asked again the other day whether we should send someone to Jincheng to bring Sanya back."

Aunt Ji, who was smiling as she peeled oranges for him, lowered her head, and the smile on her face gradually faded.

He replied after a moment.

"The eldest son is quite considerate of his younger sister."

"Isn't that right? After all, he was the one who personally brought you back from Fanji Town back then."

Aunt Ji lowered her head, placed the freshly peeled orange in a small dish, and carefully picked out the white veins on it with silver tweezers.

“I sent a letter to Jincheng before the Lunar New Year.”

She spoke softly, a hint of sorrow in her eyes.

"But the child did not reply. I think she probably still resents me, resents me for disciplining her too much, and resents me for marrying her off in a hurry."

“The Sun family of Jincheng is one of the wealthiest families, as the master and eldest son have inquired about before. If that’s the case, she can’t endure hardship. If she doesn’t want to come back, then she doesn’t have to. Staying away from someone as eyesore as me will make her happier.”

After hearing this, the master said no more.

He simply said, "She is your daughter, and she will do whatever you say."

Aunt Ji then smiled.

"Sir, why don't you take a look at Bao-ge's handwriting? Such a small child, yet his handwriting is quite decent."

.

Qi Su couldn't bear to watch the family's harmonious and happy life continue.

She sat on the roof ridge, resting her chin on her hand.

The wind blew over her head, over her arms, and over her feet.

She blew in the wind for fifteen minutes.

He came down from the roof and knocked on the small tea room in the corner of the courtyard.

A little girl, about eleven or twelve years old, peeked out from inside.

Seeing her wasn't surprising. He silently led her into the room and served her a cup of tea.

Qi Su asked, "Has the poison from the corpse worms been neutralized?"

The little girl nodded.

"The antidote has been removed. The drug was administered quietly that day, and my aunt was unaware of it."

Qi Su then asked, "How is Auntie doing?"

The young girl said, "I'm doing very well. My son is well-behaved, my mistress is kind, and my husband is considerate."

Qi Su nodded.

"That's good."

She pushed open the door and went out.

The lanterns on Imperial Street are so beautiful.

She hasn't even gone to see it yet.

Now, it's her turn to see this fish and dragon dance.

.

When I returned from looking at the lights on the street, it was already past midnight.

Lights were lit in the back of the Yan family residence.

After a period of noise, silence soon returned.

Qi Su had a great time today. The magnificent sight of the city lights twinkling all night is something not everyone gets to see.

But when she lay down in bed, she couldn't fall asleep quickly.

Her chest was throbbing with pain.

Perhaps it was that little girl, forgotten by her family, secretly sobbing in some corner.

She tossed and turned in bed, and in her drowsy state, she suddenly sensed a clicking sound coming from under the eaves.

It looks like someone is coming.